How to Choose a Personal Trainer-A Guide to Making an Informed Decision so Results Come Quickly and Last Forever

OK, you’ve decided it’s time to “get in shape”.

Finally, you’re ready to look better and feel better the sensible way – through nutrition and exercise. Because time and experience has shown you the truth:

Diets don’t work, ab gizmos don’t work, and infomercials are a joke.

You're finally ready to get real and transform your body once and for all.

You’ve heard the amazing success stories, watched many a late night episode of “Extreme Makeover”, read about the celebrities’ secret weight loss weapon…

And have decided to seek out the guidance of a personal trainer.

But not all personal trainers are created equal, so how do you find the right personal trainer for YOU?

1. They must be certified by a nationally accredited institution.

The gold standards for certification agencies are the American Council on Exercise, National Strength and Conditioning Association, and American College of Sports Medicine.

A qualified trainer should at minimum have a certification with one of these agencies. But that just means they’ve passed the “baseline of standards” to call themselves a personal trainer. It does not mean they are good at what they do or can deliver a specific result. There is a big difference between a “trainer” and a “fitness professional”.

2. They should do more than just “take you through a workout”.

A top quality fitness professional does more than just “take you through a workout”. Anyone can count to 15 and hold a clipboard.

Look for a coach who will educate you about all the components necessary to achieve optimal health and a fitness result. Your trainer should review nutrition education with you, educate you about proper supplementation, review resistance training (whether that be balance training, core work, stability balls, medicine balls, etc.) and cardiovascular exercise to maximize fat burning, improve your flexibility to avoid injury and speed recovery, and really walk you through all the steps that encompass the “mental development” side.

Goal setting, putting together a plan of action, and then holding you accountable and supporting you through the entire process is absolutely critical to your success.

3. Ask for proof of results.

A top fitness pro should be able to do more than just talk about results. They should be able to prove they deliver. Ask for proof of clients’ results. Do they have before and after photos of clients, testimonials, references? Can you speak with a client to inquire about their experience working with them? If a fitness pro can’t offer this kind of concrete proof, be careful.

4. Ask for a guarantee.

According to a Consumer Reports study, there is more dissatisfaction in the diet industry than any other industry. That’s crazy. Think about it: if you took your car to a mechanic, you’d expect it to be fixed, not come back with two or three pings and a loose belt!

Working with a fitness professional should be the same as any other industry. If they aren’t willing to guarantee your results, find someone who will. Spending your time and energy without a guarantee of results is like going to that terrible mechanic!

Don’t waste your money – or more importantly your time – working with someone who can’t offer an iron-clad guarantee of your success.

5. Look for someone who will empower you for life!

A great fitness coach does more than just help you achieve your goals. A true professional teaches you the foundation of knowledge so you will no longer be lost in the “sea of confusion” when it comes to all the diet and exercise hype.

The foundation of knowledge and correct technique you’ll learn will allow you to maintain your results for life!